NHS England has announced Professor Anita Thapar and Joanna Killian as the co-chairs of the new cross-sector Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Taskforce.
The taskforce has been launched together with government and brings together experts from the NHS, local government, education, charity and justice to gain a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including access to services and rising demand.
the taskforce will look at ways of improving ADHD pathways and patient experience as well as making recommendations for reform.
Professor Anita Thapar is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and a clinician scientist and a professor at the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University. She currently works as co-chair on the Welsh Government Neurodivergence Ministerial Advisory Group and on the Welsh Government Clinical Advisory Group for ADHD assessment and support.
Professor Anita Thapar said: “I am delighted to jointly lead this taskforce with my co-chair Joanna Killian. One of our first roles will be to appoint the taskforce membership. Central to our membership we will have people with lived experience guiding us and providing insight. They will be working alongside many experts who together can make a difference to improving ADHD services across England”.
Joanna Killian is Chief Executive of the Local Government Association and was previously Chair of the Board of St Mungo’s, the UK homelessness charity.
Joanna Killian said: “I am delighted to be asked to co-chair the taskforce. ADHD is a condition that affects people’s day-to-day lives in many different ways and there is increasing demand for support and information. Councils provide a range of care to children and adults with ADHD, working with local housing, health, education and voluntary sector partners. The taskforce is an important opportunity for national partners to work together to ensure services meet the needs of people of all ages with ADHD in the future”.
Steve Russell, chief delivery officer at NHS England said: “The NHS launched the first cross-sector ADHD taskforce in response to a growth in demand for services and, as we continue to build on that momentum, I am pleased to announce that Anita and Joanna will jointly chair the taskforce.
“We have recognised that more needs to be done to ensure people can get a timely diagnosis and, importantly, that all needs are addressed. Anita and Joanna’s huge wealth of expertise, backed by the NHS, will be key to driving this important agenda forward to improve care and support for people with ADHD”.
